The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-27

from the heap of rocks and earth piled VI
against the side Of the mountain HC
knew him instantly, rode to where he Wa:
and dismounted. The man turned.
Yer Jim Orton what used to be, reck
onl" said Buckskin.
"Yes, sir, and / am yet"
"Rev'rend Orton now, lowed
'Well, preach sometimes, but 1 answr'
to the old name yet"
''rm Frank Hall"
"Why, sure enough said Orton, blush
ing. you've changed so 1 didn't recog
nize you. I'm glad TO see you again, Frank ,
keep backI'' cried Buckskin fierceIy
drawing his revolver, 'rI'm goin' to kill yeT
'To kill me! What forl"
"Ye married my wife an / swore I'd xii
the man that done that, an will Curse
you I'll shoot you like would o cayote-
say yer prayers mighty sudden" he
stepped forward and held the muzzle Of his
revolver almost in Orton's face. Just then
step was heard on the path winding
| among the pines around the foot of the
mountain and moment later little WON
an, rather pale, but with large, handsome
eyes, stepped from among the trees. She
stopped an instant, then seemed to see il
all. and with cry rushed forward and in
front of her husband.
Frank, Frankl" she said with all the
earnestness she possessed, ''what are you
going to do!'
"I'm goin' to kill that mani Git out Of my
wayp
Never, Frank, not if you shoot me
What has he done!'
"He married you an 1 swore Pd kill
him."
But didn't you marry me, tool If you
had not left me you might have been my
husband yetvn
OFF I'd come back fore We got that di-
vorce would We lived with me like ye
us'terr'
80. yes, of course, but waited for you
very long timel'
Il know it. Butt reckon ye're happier
with him than you was with mer'
Happier than l was with you towards
the last, but never can be as happy with
anybody or anywhere, again in my life as
was with you at tirst-when you were good
to me, Frank''
The little woman's tears flowed in spite
of nerself-she was almost ready to break
down, critical as the time was. Buckskin
looked at her a moment and hesitated. He
reason he now wished to. He looked at her
a moment longer, his hand trembled as he
slipped his revolver back into his belt and
he said: ~
BLAMED eff We amt crying like We uster,
little one-stop it-I can't hoot him nowr'
He paused again and add ed: Good bye,
Millie, won't never bother ye no morer'
He turned, swung himself into the sad
Oll1nnP6
while the little woman w no had broken his
will sank into her husba nd's arms.
A halfhour later and when the western
sky was all red with the setting sun, Rev.
Williams, another minister, who had been
in Eldorado year or 50, came up the gulch
to Orton's humble cottage, where he found
both him and his wife sitting under great
pine in front of the house. pale and agitated.
Brother Orton," said Mr. Williams, "a
man whom 1 only know as Buckskin,
stopped at my house few minutes ago and
asked me to give this to your wife"
He handed her buck skin sack, such as
the miners use to carry their gold dust in.
She opened it, and that was what it con-
dust and bills-the latter damp
IS if they had been buri ed in the ground.
'He told me to tell you," explained Will
ams, ''to use it any way you wanted to.
He spoke as if there was quite a large sum,
but he sa id he guessed it belonged to you"
They related the recent occurrences to
Mr.. Williams.
1--WE must try and see him again." said
Orton, perhaps we can do him good.''
YES" said his wife, ''we must
81 don't think you can" replied VIII
ans; ''he said when he gave the bag to me
hat he was going away"
1--WE will try at least" returned Orton.
Early next morning the Intelligence that
he Eldorado vigilantes had been at work
he night before spread through that pros
,erous city. The news went everywhere |
t even wandered up the gulch to the little |
cottage where Orton and his wife had taken |
Up their abode to try and do something in |
heir quiet way to help Eldorado and make |
he vigilantes unnecessary. And the story |
# their work the night before was that |
Suckskin had been shot a few miles down
he gulch. And the story added that he
ad long been suspicioned, which was true
nough, and that man called Shorty, one
f his gang, who had been captured the
ay before and partially hung-hung
nough to make him com mmunicative-had
old all, and stated that Buckskin was the
eader OF the gang. And besides, the story
ontinued, he was found riding a stolen
orse and attempting to get out of the
ountry.
A little later Orton and his wife and their
riend, Reverend Williams, started down
ne gulch in wagon to find the scene of
he tragedy. Ten miles away and near the
rail where it wound around the foot of a
fountain on the north side they found
uckskin,. where he had fallen, dead,
ierced with a dozen rife balls. And as the
yoman who once was his wife knelt beside
i'm the morning breezes moaned through
he tops of the great dark pines something
S the night wind moaned only in another
ey, through the tall grass around the lit
e deserted ranch beyond the Belle
ourche -D1Eofn Rel